Gearing up for Bush

(Disclaimer: The title of this post may not live up to your expectations.)

Former President George Walker Bush will descend on Calgary’s Stephen Avenue next Wednesday for his first private speaking engagement since leaving office in January. Unfortunately for him, he won’t be lucky enough to avoid the semi-professional, semi-sane moonbat parade during his visit on St Patrick’s Day, as this Herald article points out:

A series of events aimed at protesting the impending visit of former United States president George W. Bush to Calgary launched Thursday afternoon with a short-lived demonstration on downtown’s Stephen Avenue.

Usually protesters wait, you know, until the protestee actually arrives before they begin protesting. It sure has been a long two months for these poor souls.

Hanging two banners — one black to reflect the events that unfolded while the United States was helmed by Bush and one white bearing messages looking toward the future — peace activists tried to engage passers-by.

Black = bad? White = good? Racists!

According to Toby Pollet, a former peacekeeper who served in Croatia and Yugoslavia, Bush should be facing war crimes charges under the Canadian Criminal Code.

“Now we’re inviting him here for a chat. It’s ridiculous,” he said as he helped hang the black banner.

Somehow I don’t believe that Peacekeeper Toby invited anyone to chat anywhere.

Or vice versa.

Fellow activist Tavis Ford said he was shocked to learn not only that Bush was coming to Calgary, but that the Chamber of Commerce was welcoming him on behalf of Calgarians.

“What are we doing?” he asked.

Good question.

Besides the banner event, the People vs. Bush group has planned a fake trial of the former leader–complete with actors and a script — for his alleged crimes.

The correct legal terminology in Canada would be Rex v. Bush, Roundhead.

Ford said it doesn’t matter that Bush is no longer the leader of the United States.

“If we let Bush go, what do we tell future leaders?” he said.

Perhaps that Canada doesn’t jail former leaders of our allies on the whim of a small but embarrassing mob?

Bush is set to talk on March 17 at the Telus Convention Centre.During the private event, called A conversation with George W. Bush, the former president is expected to talk about his eight years as the head of the United States and what challenges the world now faces.

Event organizers would not say how ticket sales for the event are progressing. Previously, they said they expected about 1,500 people to attend.

A friend is one of the organizers. He tells me that this is one of the most popular events they have ever had.

Mount Royal College political scientist Keith Brownsey called the strong dislike of Bush “profound,” but said it is “in many ways” deserved for leading the United States into a war in which thousands have lost their lives.

… and in which two brutal dictatorships were disposed and when Saddam Hussein was captured and tried and where liberal democracy in the Middle East has grabbed a foot-hold …

“The hopes that were dashed with George W. Bush, the policies he pursued, have put the United States in a profoundly difficult position, both domestically and worldwide,” he said. But he added he is interested in hearing what the former leader has to say.

Come now, Brownsey. What hopes did you ever have of George Bush, and whence were they dashed?

The activists’ arguments echo those from a group of lawyers who have asked the RCMP to bar the former president from entering the country, saying there is “overwhelming evidence that he has committed, outside Canada, torture and other offences.”

The group, called the Lawyers Against War, wrote a letter to the national police service’s war crimes section, copying Prime Minister Stephen Harper, other federal ministers and opposition MPs and has asked for a reply prior to Bush’s arrival in Canada.

I’m going to write a letter asking Prime Minister Stephen Harper to declare a War Against Lawyers.

Thursday’s event lasted less than an hour as bylaw officers indicated the group could face fines or court appearances for hanging their banners on trees and lampposts, and the signs were subsequently taken down by the group. One of the officers confirmed they had received a call about the protest.

They’re flouting the law! Arrest them! Arrest them all!

As an aside, am I the only one in thinking that these nut-bags would secretly endorse a change to the American Constitution that would have enabled President Bush to hold office indefinitely — if only to provide meaning to their pathetic lives?